The J24 National Committee has taken the painful decision to reverse our earlier decision to run the 2021 Nationals on 7-10 January 2021.
The 2021Nationals will not be held at this time and at this point there are too many variables to plan a replacement regatta and timing.
We all want to sail but due to the current flare up in SA, and the potential for this still to happen in other states with border closures and quarantine, it is not possible to guarantee a safe, trouble free running of the regatta. We have had discussions with Australian Sailing, some of the interstate competitors who have have contacted us and expressed an interest to compete, the Vic Association and SYC. This decision has been a unanimous one from all National committee members.
The J24 NSW Championships have just been completed at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Pittwater on 31 Oct & 1 Nov. Ten entries were received, but Calypso suffered a trailer-related incident and did not compete (it’s a long story but a good one….ask Paul about it when you’ve got a few minutes to spare)
Those regular boats who chose not to compete missed out on a great event, notwithstanding the weather which threw everything at us from warm and sunny to thunder and lightning and at times LOTS of rain! The venue and facilities are excellent, lots of hardstand space, cranes, a very professional race crew and helpful, welcoming staff. COVID Rules were obviously in place and restricted social activities a little but it all ran very well.
The RO Stephen Merrington managed to get all 6 heats run on a difficult stormy weekend when a lot of other club racing around Sydney was cancelled.
Saturday started with a North Easterly at around 10 kt, but later shifted southerly. Two races had to be abandoned half way through which was unfortunate (especially for Tinto, leading both times) but that’s sailing!
Steve Quigley on Convicts Revenge won Race 1, followed by Tinto and El Fideldo, and Race 2 was won by Ace (Dave West) from Innamincka and Stamped Urgent. Another race was started but then the storm closed in and competitors were sent home in the pouring rain.
With the forecast early Southerly change expected to get up to 30kt, hopes were not high for much sailing on Sunday but we were fortunate to get all 4 races run, in a wind moving from SW to South and increasing from 8-10 kt to well over 20.
Tinto won Race 3 after a poor first leg, coming from 4th at the last mark to the final margin of 24 seconds from Convicts Revenge and Ace. Race 4 went to John Crawford in Innamincka from Convicts Revenge and Ace.
With the strengthening wind we were all on Jibs for Race 5. This race had the closest finish of the series with the first 5 finishing in 6 seconds, Ace taking first from Innamincka and Tinto.
The final race was getting tough with the strong and gusty Southerly really testing everyone. Convicts Revenge got the better of Ace in a tight tactical battle up the second work to win, and Tinto taking third.
Racing overall was very tight and competitive, with most finishing within 2 or 3 minutes each race. However here were no protests and no (bad) collisions, so a good weekend all round. Convicts won the series on countback from Ace on 10 points, with Tinto 3rd on 14. Welcome (back) to the J fleet Steve and the crew, we are looking forward to more good close racing with you at Cronulla and elsewhere.
PHS results gave the win to Okavango Delta 1st, Waterborne Again 2nd and El Fideldo 3rd. Congratulations and well sailed to all of you.
A Resilience prize was awarded to Sailmates. Competing in their first State Champs, they finished every race and flew a kite on every run. Well done!
Finally, special “Thanks” to Bryce at Infinity Rigging, and Shane at Doyle Sails who donated prizes for the event. Please support these locally owned businesses where you can.
The boat was originally Bob Harden’s “mr happy” and notched up a very competitive record.
Currently called “Knot Mr Happy”, and owned by Jeff Ellefson in Dallas, Texas. Some of you met Jeff a few years ago when he visited Sydney and Melbourne.
He currently owns “too many” Js and has reduced the price of 5319 to USD13,000 to move her.
I have a link to some pictures I can send to anyone interested and would be happy to work through the transport and shipping information.
Jeff’s email for further contact is Jeffery Ellefson jeffery.l.ellefson@gmail.com
The J24 Gosford Regatta on the October Long weekend in NSW was enjoyed by 11 boats who attended. The breeze was a North Easterly sea breeze with blue skies and sunshine and no sign of the rain that we have endured in the past.
A new normal perhaps? All boats sailed with 4 crew to meet current spacing recommendations with going to jib at around 10 knots of breeze.
Breeze perfect, venue and club perfect and waited on by a great club team including Tom Slingsby’s dad, we had so much fun, all fantastic – the best event ever.
We welcomed our new J owner Cameron Cooke, who purchased his J24 Artesis in September 2020 for $100, Cameron called the team for advice and could he borrow some sails. The boat looked a treat with the wooden spinnaker pole and he was up there in his finishes – Welcome to the J24 class and we all look forward to seeing you at RPAYC for the NSW states.
Day 1 – 4 races – with the usual hot sailors taking up the front positions. Jeanette Syme taking out 4th overall and winning the Thompson trophy (no excuse that the national president failed to attend the regatta – something about locked up in a southern state). John Crawford was very slippery with his new Genoa.
Day 2 – Sean Kirkjian sailing Sailpac showed the fleet his stern – arrived with his new crew having 2 spinnaker training sessions, now on day 2 the crew were fine-tuned with Race 1 first and Race 2 unfortunately OCS. Race 6 saw John Crawford taking Blackjack skipper John Gardener off the track to keep his overall 2nd pace safe.
The scratch winner of the regatta was Ace, skippered by David West who was on equal points with Innaminka, skippered by John Crawford. The final result was decided on a count back. Third was Sailpac skippered by Sean Kirkjian with his team from Pacific Sailing School. 4th Kaotic – Garth Riley, 5th Okavango Delta – Janette Syme, 6th Blackjack – Alvaro Mejia, 7th Bandit – Terry Wise, 8th Starpac – John Gardner, 9th Pacatack – Wendy Tuck, 10th Waterbourne Again – Matt Miles, 11th Artesia – Cameron Cooke.
The handicap winner was Blackjack skippered by Alvaro Mejia from Pacific Sailing School, second on handicap was Okavango Delta skippered by Janette Syme in her new boat. Third was Kaotic skippered by Garth Riley in his first J24 Regatta.
Congratulations to winner Dave West, sailing consistently fast with many top places.
It was great to see Terry Wise and his sailing school students at this regatta with 5 boats and very enthusiastic crews who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The five crews from PSS joined the start line with Damien on Starpac (owner of a TP52) John Gardner Blackjack, (28 Gosford regattas) Sean Kirkjian on Sailpac, Terry Wise on Bandit (Bandit 1982 winner Worlds) and new J24 Skipper Wendy Tuck – (legend and lovely young lady and winner of Clipper round the world race)
Big thanks to John Crawford who was at the NSW Association head for over 10 years and welcome to new president Chris Lee. To the Race Regatta team headed again by Peter Walsh, we thank you for arranging the perfect conditions and perfect race starts.
The whole weekend had beautiful sailing conditions and it was an excellent way to start our season.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the NSW State Titles at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Newport on the 31st October – 1st November Weekend.
Crew Limit on all Yachts shall be 4 – This includes the Skipper!
NSW J24 AGM will be held at 6pm on Fri 2nd Oct – Boat Shed Bar
Addendum 1
Safety and COVID 19 Health Orders2020 Information for Competitors Recreational boating is now permitted under the NSW Government Public Health Orders; however these orders may be reversed if boaters are seen to be disregarding the requirements for social distancing or clubs become a source of transmission. Gosford Sailing Club is pleased to be able to re-commence sailing in June, but COVID-19 is still with us and therefore we need to adapt the way we sail. We are all obliged to work together to fight the transmission of the virus, so the club has introduced some new requirements for racing.At Home• Any tasks that can be done at home, should be done at home (e.g. debriefing etc). • It is strongly recommended that all sailors download the Australian Government COVID -19 contact tracing app (COVID Safe) and keep it active at all times. • It is also recommended that sailors be tested for COVID-19. • If you are a person with high risk of COVID-19,or have symptoms of the Virus (even if mild), stay at home.Before RacingTo provide for possible tracing, all competing boats are now required to register all their crew details (Crew Name and AS Number or SailPass Number) before each race. The penalty for not registering before the finish time of the last boat is disqualification from the race.
To register: Sign ON All Skippers and crew shall fill out the online form from the QR link.
While we are all missing the usual social atmosphere of our club, it will be open with limited capacity and there will be no prizegiving get-togethers after sailing. The “new normal” for sailing at GSC and other NSW clubs is GET IN, SAIL & GET OUT • Arrive dressed and ready to sail • No use of change rooms, bathrooms and communal areas at this stage • Shower at home instead of at the club • The 4m2 rule applies ashore and sailors should maintain at least 1.5m distance • Avoid congregating at the Marina, Boatshed and on the beach • Hand hygiene stations will be available at a number of locations
The J24 Class NSW Championship 2020 is being planned for the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on Pittwater, over the 31Oct-01Nov weekend. NOR released!!!
Please note, all organisation for this event is based on the expectation of a relaxation to the current COVID-19 rules, restricting competitors from different regions being together. Expected announcement date 07Oct.
We are asking entries to start rolling in for planning purposes. Entries are open through the RPAYC Regatta page. Payment option will commence 07Oct.
At the recent J24 National Committee meeting it was decided the first six placegetters and the all-girl team from the 2020 Australian Championships held on Sydney Harbour, would be able to enter the 2021 J24 Worlds in Poole. This is in accordance with the IJCA announcement. Subject to International Travel restrictions being lifted, these qualifiers must advise the National Committee of their intention to participate in Poole by end of November 2020. Should any of these qualifiers decide not to participate, then the six qualifiers from the 2021 Australian Championships may enter instead. Preference will be given in the order of the placegetters. Any of the six 2021 qualifiers (plus an all-girl crew and Youth Boat) who do not wish to go to Poole may instead will be considered for the 2022 World Championships to be held in Argentina in March 2022. This allows them 14 months to prepare for these Championships.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please refer these to your National Committee member.
Completely refurbed Mast – all fixings/ blocks removed cleaned and/or replaced. (Tefgel barrier also applied)
Mast comes with All halyards and new Rigging ( will be made custom to your boat).
Pick up Taren Point NSW.
